Government 'backtracking' on arms export safeguards

The government will today face charges of backtracking on its commitments to make arms export licences conditional on examining the implications for sustainable development and human rights.

Human rights groups accused the government yesterday of planning to reinstate a damaging loophole in the arms export control bill when it returns to the Commons today.

Patricia Hewitt, the trade and industry secretary, was defeated in the Lords when opposition peers passed amendments requiring sustainable development to be included in all guidance to ministers for deciding on whether to grant an arms export licence.

The government does not have an overall majority in the Lords.

Oxfam and Saferworld yesterday urged MPs to "support the important changes introduced in the Lords and resist the government's attempts to water down the legislation".

Ministers want to insert a clause stating the government must publish what guidance on sustainable development, if any, ministers must consider in deciding to grant a licence.

Legal advice given to Saferworld by the lawyers Matrix Chambers suggests the wording would allow ministers not to be given any guidance on human rights or sustainable development.

The row follows last year's sale of a BAe military radar system to Tanzania for £28m. As a price for allowing the sale to go ahead the DTI agreed that sustainable development should be a factor in any arms export licence.

Adrian Lovett, the Oxfam campaigns director, said: "We had hoped the one good thing to come out of the Tanzania debacle would be tighter arms laws.

"We are stunned to find the opposite. The government wants to lead the fight against world poverty, but this decision is completely inconsistent with that claim."

Paul Eavis, director of Saferworld, said: "It is alarming that the government is now seeking to reinstate a loophole into the arms export bill. Under its proposals concerns for sustainable development, human rights and regional stability could be disregarded in decisions on arms exports. We urge MPs to take a stand on this vital issue."

The campaign has the support of the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and church leaders, including David Stancliffe, the bishop of Salisbury.

He has written to all MPs in his region asking them to vote against the government's proposal, and saying they have the chance to make a big difference for poor people in the developing world.